Chapter 3
Doleen lowered her head even further, looking like she was about to burst into tears.
"That's enough, Alvera," Kyle said.
Seeing I was getting more and more out of line, Kyle suddenly stood up, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me out of the ward.
He demanded, "Are you out of your mind? It's only been six months since Jason passed."
I snapped, "So you know she's your sister-in-law, huh? Then why can't you seem to keep your distance from her?"
"You're just being unreasonable. I swear, there's nothing going on between me and Doleen," he said.
He was furious, gripping my wrist tight as he dragged me into the elevator.
"Let go of me!" I yelled. I raked my nails across the back of his hand, trying to break free. "You're hurting me."
When we reached the underground parking lot, Kyle hauled me toward his black Land Rover without saying a word.
He shoved me inside and slammed the door shut. In the sealed-off space, all one could hear was our ragged breathing.
"Alvera, just hear me out," Kyle said.
His grip loosened, and his tone softened at once.
"Doleen just twisted her ankle, alright? Mom's too old to help her up herself," Kyle said.
"Mom couldn't help her, but there's maids there. Why did you have to carry her yourself?" I shot back.
I massaged my sore wrist. "And you had to get all close and whisper in her ear? Did you really need to—"
"Enough!" Kyle snapped.
He slammed his fist down on the steering wheel, and the horn blared, making my ears ring.
"Can you stop being so dirty-minded? The maids were not there tonight," he snapped. "And she's my sister-in-law.
"Jason gave his life to save me. What's so wrong with me looking after his widow?"
How convenient that the maids just happen to be gone tonight.
I stared at his bloodshot eyes and suddenly couldn't help but find the whole thing absurd.
"Kyle, are you really sure you're just 'taking care' of her?" I asked.
He was about to say something when his phone suddenly rang.
The word "Doleen" lit up on the screen. What an eyesore.
Kyle hesitated for a split second, then picked up.
"Yeah, okay. I'll be right there," he said.
He hung up, his expression unreadable as he looked at me.
"They need to get her admitted at the hospital, but Mom didn't bring enough money," he said.
"So?" I shot back. I leaned back in the seat, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Are you going to ditch me again?"
"It'll just be for ten minutes," he said.
He tried to touch my face, but I turned away, dodging his hand.
"Wait for me in the car. I promise I'll be back as soon as I'm done," he said.
"Get lost," I shot back coldly.
I closed my eyes, listening as the car door opened and slammed shut, his footsteps quickly fading into the distance.
The cold air in the underground parking lot chilled me to the bone.
I opened my eyes and my gaze landed on Kyle's backup phone under the passenger seat. It was the one he used for business calls.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I bent down and picked it up.
The screen lit up, and the lock screen was a blurry photo that looked like the outline of two people.
I typed in his usual password.
The phone unlocked, and the moment I saw what was inside, my blood ran cold.
The photo album was full of pictures of Doleen.
Some showed her in sexy pajamas, and some nursing a baby. There were even a few that were clearly snapped in a hotel bathroom.
The most recent one was taken just ten minutes ago. It was a close-up of her on the hospital bed, sticking out her tongue and licking her lips.
The caption said, "Miss you."
But that wasn't all. The WhatsApp messages were even more explicit.
Doleen: [Kyle, let's meet at our usual spot tonight. Alvera has gone back to her family today, and the baby's staying with my mom.]
Doleen: [I left my lipstick in your car. Make sure Alvera doesn't find it.]
Doleen: [Remember that time? I can't stop thinking about how you kissed me. I want it again.]
Doleen: [When are you going to divorce her? You promised me and the baby a real home.]
My blood ran cold, and I bit down hard on the back of my hand to keep from screaming.
My stomach churned, and my fingers kept scrolling, almost on their own.
Then I saw a message from three months ago.
Doleen: [Jason's dead. So what are you still waiting for? If you hadn't brought it up that day, Jason never would've died.]
"What are you doing?" The car door was flung open, and Kyle was right there, staring at me.
He caught sight of the phone in my hand, and his face froze, then went pale as a sheet.
"Alvera, let me explain," he blurted out, panic in his voice.
"Explain what?" I shot back.
I shoved the phone in his face. Those filthy texts shone in the dark car, impossible to ignore. "Explain how you were already messing around with your brother's wife before his body was even cold?
"Or maybe explain how you two have been plotting behind my back to divorce me from the very start?"
The veins on Kyle's forehead were throbbing.
"It's not like that," he said.
"Oh really? Then what is it, huh?" I snapped. "You two have been hooking up right under my nose since our wedding day."